Cubs fans beware: Marlon Byrd inks three-year deal
Posted on December 31, 2009
Marlon Byrd of the Texas Rangers catches a fly ball in right field during a spring training game against the Oakland Athletics at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona on March 18, 2008. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
The Chicago Cubs have found someone to replace the departed Milton Bradley by inking former Texas Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrd to a three-year contract worth $15 million. The 32-year-old Byrd hit .283 with 20 home runs and 89 RBIs for the Rangers in 2009. He has also laced’em up for the Phillies and Nationals in his previous eight big league seasons. Cubs fans beware. You should not be happy about this deal.
Marlon Byrd of the Texas Rangers gets ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on September 14, 2008. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
I think it will be a long season on the North Side of Chicago if Cubs fans think Byrd will be able to hold down an outfield spot and put up big numbers. Over his career Byrd has been a very unremarkable player who has put up pedestrian numbers throughout his mediocre career. Byrd is lucky that he is a free agent this season when there are not many stars available on the open market. There are so many teams out there like the Cubs who are desperate for outfield help that any warm body like Byrd can offer a glimmer of hope for the 2010 season. Thus the Cubs have gambled $15 million that they can catch lightning in a bottle. I think they are stuck with a 75-watt bulb.
Marlon Byrd of the Texas Rangers bats during the game against the Oakland Athletics at the McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on September 13, 2008. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
Chicago can be a tough place to play- especially if you are coming from the Texas like Byrd is where the sports fans near Dallas barely know the Rangers exist. Cubs fans have been demanding a winner for a long time is this might be a make it or break it year for skipper Lou Piniella. If Byrd does not start the season well the fans at Wrigley Field will not be happy, especially after what happened with Bradley last season.
Marlon Byrd of the Texas Rangers gets ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on May 4, 2008. This was a turn back the clock day game that featured both teams wearing 1968 era uniforms. The Rangers wore Washington Senators uniforms. (Photo by Brad Mangin)
Byrd has been such a non-factor during his career that I have never been asked to photograph him. This is one of the reason I do not have many images of him in my archive. This will all change, however when I get down to Arizona in February to photograph spring training. The Cubs are always a big story, so you can bet that I will be making some trips to Ho Ho Kam Park in Mesa to photograph their new outfielder. For his sake I hope he plays well, otherwise it is going to be a long season on the North Side.
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